Zhou et al. have measured the single-crystal elasticity of hydrous Fe-bearing wadsleyite at simultaneously high pressure-temperature condition for the first time. These data were used for modeling the global temperature, water content and petrological variations in terms of wadsleyite proportion in the mantle transition zone based on seismic observations. Large thermochemical heterogeneities were revealed in these models, for example, the mantle transition zone regions near the subducted slabs are relatively cold, refractory with high wadsleyite content, and slightly more hydrated compared with ambient mantle.

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